New Zealand's 2degrees Seeks Delay in Radio Spectrum Sale

New Zealand's smallest mobile network, 2degrees is calling on the government to leave an unsold block of radio spectrum available for future use.

During the recent auction, each of the three networks was allowed to bid for
2x15 MHz, and while Vodafone and Telecom took their full allocation, 2degrees
chose to take just 2x10Mhz. That left an unsold block of 2x5Mhz on the table,
that can now be sold to either of the two other mobile networks.

However, 2degrees is now trying to argue that any possible sale be delayed
until the results of a telecoms market review are published.

"Spectrum is the motorway for mobile operators, and in the next few
years that motorway will be built on 1800MHz spectrum, which all mobile
operators already own. There are no mobile devices or networks using 700MHz that
can be deployed in New Zealand right now, so there's no pressing consumer need
to sell the remaining portion of that band," says Mr Sherriff.

Mr Sherriff says it would be easy to make the wrong call now.

Mr Sherriff says he will write to Communications Minister Amy Adams asking
her to put the 700MHz on the shelf -- and let the market review provide insights
that deliver more for consumers.

It's worth noting that 2degrees could have bought the spectrum itself, and
knew that failure to do so would leave it open to being bought by its rivals.